EXCLUSIVE: It’s an O.C. reunion at NBC! The O.C. creator/executive producer Josh Schwartz has a hot new hourlong project in the works, which will star O.C. alumna Rachel Bilson. After a heated bidding, the show, a supernatural romantic comedy titled Ghost Angeles, has landed at NBC with a pilot production commitment, a rare feat for a project that has not been written yet. Schwartz and Henry Alonso Myers (Ugly Betty) co-created Ghost Angeles and will write it together. Details on the project are being kept under wraps but, according to a concept circulated around, it centers on a young woman in Los Angeles who can talk to the dead, helping the spirits as much as they are helping her. Ghost Angeles hails from Fake Empire, Schwartz’s recently launched company with Stephanie Savage, and Warner Bros. TV where the company is based with a five-year deal. Schwartz, Myers, Savage and Fake Empire’s Leonard Goldstein are executive producing. In its first development season, Fake Empire has already sold 2 projects, Ghost Angeles and an ensemble show about young people in DC from writer Will Fetters, which is set up at ABC. Ghost Angeles marks the first hourlong project created by Schwartz in 4 years, since he sold Chuck, co-written with Chris Fedak, to NBC and Gossip Girl, co-penned with Savage, to the CW in 2006. It also extends Schwartz’s relationship with NBC where Schwartz’s spy dramedy Chuck just kicked off its fourths season.

The O.C. marked a career breakthrough for both Schwartz, who at the time became the youngest TV series creator, and Bilson, who had only done small guest roles until then. Bilson’s character on the show, Summer Roberts, was also originally written as guest star but, after it popped, she was made a series regular, and Summer’s romance with Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) became one of O.C.‘ key plotlines. Bilson, who is friends with Schwartz and his wife (she served as maid of honor at their wedding), did an arc on the first season of Schwartz’s NBC dramedy Chuck. Bilson, whose feature credits include Jumper and New York I Love You, guest starred on the season premiere of CBS’ How I Met Your Mother last week, reprising her role as a love interest for Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) from the show’s 100th episode last season. Myers is currently a consulting producer on Chuck.

For a moment, I thought Schwartz is adapting the brilliant new australian Series SPIRITED. I’m still kind of hoping that that’s what this is, because SPIRITED is genius. Romantic, mysterious, sweet and so much fun. Matt King is perfectly cast as the ghost of rock star Henry.

PS Made of Honor was a horrible movie and apparently screwed up ppl’s spelling as well.

TheBen • on Sep 28, 2010 9:03 am

Geeez, ‘The Ghost Whisperer’ but slightly more upbeat? The title sounds like that of a bad b-movie.

John • on Sep 28, 2010 9:20 am

Isn’t this show called Ghost Whisperer? I thought it was canceled.

Smart Guy • on Sep 28, 2010 9:29 am

Guaranteed failure! No one will watch this. Period.

Friend of the OC • on Sep 28, 2010 9:34 am

Summer and Seth together again!!!

Anna • on Sep 28, 2010 9:44 am

Ghost Whisperer has run its course, and Medium lingers due to some folly at CBS; do we really need another show like this?

Film Genius • on Sep 28, 2010 1:15 pm

Anna, you read my mind girl. When is anybody going to think of something original and worth watching for once. How many times can they reuse the same old concept and then celebrate it like it’s something new and exciting. I’m throwing my T.V out the window.

sean • on Sep 28, 2010 9:57 am

Can you spell GHOST WHISPERER. C’mon NBC, you can do better than this?!

Anonymous • on Sep 28, 2010 11:08 am

Another show about a girl who helps the dead?

Seriously?

I mean it… SERIOUSLY?!

Mike • on Sep 28, 2010 11:14 am

So I am not very good at the terms used if something is given pilot production commitment dies that mean it is garanteed to make air?? I am a huge fan of Josh and will watch anything he is involved with.

brick • on Sep 28, 2010 11:58 am

Script committment = payment to write a script for the network.

Pilot committment = agreement to produce a pilot

Put pilot = agreement to air the series (usually attached to huge penalties if agreement is broken).

ltm • on Sep 28, 2010 2:04 pm

that’s not exactly right. a put pilot is not as good as a pilot production commitment. “put pilot” is an antiquated term that used to mean that a pilot was going to be produced. now, it signals an intent to order to production without any real obligation to do so.

filmgal • on Sep 28, 2010 11:28 am

Concept under wraps — except that it’s the same regurgitated crap we’ve seen on the tube for years?? Ugh. I hope at least it’s the inverse — that SHE’S the ghost. Sigh.

Kris • on Sep 28, 2010 11:34 am

I’ve seen this show, it’s called Ghost Whisperer.

jane • on Sep 28, 2010 11:45 am

YAY! I love Rachel!!! I’m excited for her to be back on TV!

i love josh • on Sep 28, 2010 12:46 pm

Josh is a star and he is one big cutey. I wonder what his ex-manager turned cult leader Mikkel is thinking after his he lost Josh due to his Forum like ways turned off Mr. Schwartz. Josh good luck on another show.

Mark • on Sep 28, 2010 12:47 pm

Wait a second, isn’t ABC Studios doing Ghostworld or is this it just with a different name?

Ghost Angeles sounds exactly like Ghost Whisperer, Wouldn’t it have been easier to take on Ghost Whisperer instead?

Hey • on Sep 28, 2010 1:00 pm

Dead Like Me was seen stalking the Warner lot wanting to talk to M. Schwartz for his disrespect.

I like Josh’s work and am glad that he’s done well after The O.C. but this just seems to be the worst kind of pilot decision by a network and a producer. I’m really worried what this kind of schlock will do to his and Rachel’s careers – JLH did GW when everyone realized she really only had 2.5 talents and they were all vulnerable to Katie Allie disease. Josh is better than this (he’s not making art but he is making good TV with GG, Chuck, and the first 2 seasons of the OC) and Rachel could really turn into a serious actress.

Lets hope the pilot bombs!

Gargle - spit • on Sep 28, 2010 1:01 pm

Sounds like a real (belches) winner.

Jeffster • on Sep 28, 2010 1:50 pm

Bad news for Chuck you guys! They might be offering this to Schwartz cause they plan to cancel Chuck after this season! Please don’t let Chuck die NBC!!!!!

Stylez • on Sep 28, 2010 9:41 pm

Or it could mean a package deal to extend Chuck.

sparc • on Sep 28, 2010 2:24 pm

It’s funny how obvious it is to everyone else that this should never have been picked up, but apparently the folks at NBC don’t have a clue.